» Another terrorist directly linked to Osama to be released on bail in UK

Another terrorist directly linked to Osama to be released on bail in UK

Published: Thursday, June 19, 2008, 12:21 [IST]

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London, June 19 : A man implicated in separate plots to blow up Los Angeles Airport and the Christmas market in Strasbourg and is said to have "direct links to Osama bin Laden and other senior al-Qa'eda figures, is to be freed under similar bail conditions which led to the release of radical Islamist preacher Abu Qatada.

The man, referred to only as "U" in court papers, cannot be named under the terms of a court order but will be released as soon as his bail conditions have been agreed, the Daily Telegraph has learned.

The Home Office claims he was a "leading organiser and facilitator of terrorist activity" and was once called one of the world's most wanted terrorists.

U has had his bail agreed "in principle" along with another man, cleared of an alleged terrorist plot to use the poison ricin.

The other man, known only as "Y" in court papers, also cannot be named.

His fingerprints were allegedly found on a photocopy of a poison recipe along with those of police killer Kamel Bourgass and on a plastic bag containing an imitation handgun found at Finsbury Park mosque.

They are the last of the 14 men detained under the Special Immigration Appeals Commission to be released.

Qatada, described as a "truly dangerous individual" with close connections to al-Qaeda was released under a 22-hour curfew on Tuesday. His security is likely to cost 500,000 pounds a year.

A British Foreign office note sent to U's native Algeria in 2006 said: "Senior position in Mujahedin training camp in Afghanistan. Direct links to Osama Bin Laden and other senior AQ (al Qaeda) figures. Involved in supporting terrorists including those involved in the planned attack on the Strasbourg Christmas Market in 2000, and an earlier plan to attack Los Angeles Airport."

The Special Immigration and Appeals Commission (SIAC) said last year there were "credible grounds for believing each of these assertions."

U was implicated in the Los Angeles Airport plot by Ahmed Ressam, who was arrested on 14 December 1999 crossing the Canadian border with a van laden with explosives which he said were destined for Los Angeles Airport.

U, who is 45, arrived in Britain from France in 1994 and claimed asylum. He left for Afghanistan in 1996, returning three years later,

Y, who is 38, arrived in Britain via Spain and France in 2000 and claimed asylum.

The Government maintains he has received terrorist training in Afghanistan and was the British leader of an Algerian terror group called DHDS.